Brake-operating means



:5 sheets-sheet' 1 v. BENDIX v BRAKE OPERATING MEANS Filed April 27,1925 sept;

Il..O l... l

sgpt.- 243', 1930.

V. BENDIX BRAKE OPERATING MEANS Filed April 27, 1925 Asv sheets-sheet 2flue/2fa- Sept. 23, 1930. f v, BENl'Dlvx 137765410 BRAKE OPI-:Ruwe MEANSFiled April 27, 1925 's sheets-Sheet s "Patente Sept. l23, 1,930

#UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -vIIaoEnfT nnnmxjorcmcaeo, ILLINoIs,A'ssIGNoE 'Io'BENDIX BRAKE coMrANY, or

' carence, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS EnAxE-OI'ERATING- MEANSApplication tiledl April 2.2"?, 1925. Serial No. 26,036.

yThis invention relates to operating means for brakes, and isillustrated as embodied in variously modified forms ofv automobileAbrake-operating connections; and, While not so limited as'to all of itsfeatures, the invention Yisof special importance in operating brakesv onfront Wheels (by which term I mean'toinclude an swivelled wheel). Theprincipal objects o the invention are 'toscl-cure simple and easilyadjustable connections,

' axis, from an idle position outside of that axis to an active positionsubstantially in the axis so that steering`movement of the Wheel 2.5 ispermitted when thebrakes are on. This permits the use of vmuch simpleroperating connections than prior constructions in which i the movementis along the steering axis. j

Another leading feature of the invention.

' relates to the arrangement of-operating connections of this generaltype to vary the action of the brakes on a turn, preferably by relleasing the outer brake. From this point of f view, and regarding thebrake-applying con- 5L nections as including a part swivelling With 4thewheel', and movable from an idle posi- A tion outside the swivellingaxis toan active position substantially in that axis, in combinationWithyan operating member, as v:for example a lever, engaging the movablepart 'to move it to active position,^this feature of the inventioncontemplates larranging the.

`movable part and the operating member so that their junction is spacedslightly at one side of the exact mathematical steering axis,

. to vary the braking in the desired manner.

When it is desired to release the outer brake the 'junction wouldordinarily come approximately ina plane including the swivelling axisand the wheel axis, slightly at one side of the swivelling axis; Wherethe .operating `member is a lever and the outer brake is to be released,this oint of engagement would be on tle sideo thc swivelling axis nextthe whee;

The above and other objects'A and features of v the invention, includingimproved particular arrangements permitting the 'described desiredadjustments, and other Anovel conrlbinaJ tionsof parts and desirableparticular constructions, willI be apparent from the followingdescription ot the several illustrative embodiments shown in theaccompanying dravvings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one brake just inside the Wheel,showing the bnake v slioes in side elevation;

lFigure 2 is a vertical section at. right angles to Figure l through onefront,brake 'and associated parts;

, Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the inventionembodied in a disc brake; n

' .Figurel is a `vievv corresponding to part of Figure-2 but showingmodified operating connections Figure 5 is a detail elevation lookingfrom the right in. Figure 4" and showingthe oper-v ating connections inend elevation;

Figure 6 1s a View corresponding to Figure 5 and showing in endelevation still a dif- 4ferent form of operating connections; 4

Figure 7 1s a view correspondlng to Figures 5 and 6 and showing in endelevation still a diii'erent form ofoperating connections Figure 8 is apartial-vertical section showing the partsof Figure 7 partlyin sideelevation and partly in central section; and

LFigure 9 is a diagram illustrating a variadevice. In the arrangement ofFigure 2, the

tion of the braking pressure in rounding a. corner.

Inl the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the invention isillustrated as embodied in operating connections for a brake of theBendix type, including a drum'l() carried by a wheel (not shown),rotatably supported on the spindle of'a knuckle 12 swivelled byI theusual generally vertical king pin atl one end of a front axle 14 which,with the rear axle, supports through the usual springs the chassis frame16. This'particular brake includes a reverse shoe 18, anchored at 2O ona stationary backing plate or other support 22 carried by a knuckle 12,together with a forward shoe 24, anchored at 26 and forced against thedrum 10 by an unanchored or servo shoe 28, pivotally connected theretoat 30. Shoes 18 and 28 are urged away from the drum by a spring 32, andan auxiliary spring 34 is provided to hold shoe 24 awayfrom the drumuntil overcome by circumferential movement of the servo shoe 28. Shoes18 and 28 are forced against the drum against the resistance of spring32 by means shown as a double cam 36.

According to one feature of the present invention, the cam 36, or(equivalent brakeoperating means, is arranged to be operated by a partsuch as an arm or crank 38, arranged on the outside of the backing plate22; where it is readily accessible for adjustment, etc. In'theparticular arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the arm 38 isadjustably clamped tothe serrated end of a rock shaft 40 ournaled in abearing carried by the-backing plate 22 and operating the cam or otherbrake operating means 36. ,For convenience in making the necessaryadjustments, the shaft 40 is provided with flat surfaces 42, so that itmay be turned by an ordinary wrench when the arm 38 has been removed, toforce the brake into active or on position, whereupon the arm 38 isplaced in its correct radial position and slipped over the serratedend-of the shaft 40. Thereafter, clamp screw 44. or equivalent holdingmeans, is tightened. This makes a very simple adjustment, as in theillustrated type of operating connections the only posit-ion which 4isof especial importance is `the position of the l arm 38 or itsequivalent lwhen the brake is on. The arm 38 is shown as rocked to applythe brake by a generally horizontal lever 46 operated in any desiredmanner by the connections from brake pedal or other operating lever 46is pivotally supported by'a pin 48 carried by aboss 50 of the axle 14.For convenience of manufacture, the top of the boss 50 is in the sameplane with the upper surface of the extremity of the axle, so that theymay. be machined at the same time, and the bore for the pin 48 isparallel to the borefor the king pin, so that they may be drilled at thesame time.

Any suitable ltype of joint or connection may be utilized between theend of the lever 4 6 and the lower end of the arm 38. In the particularform shown, the end of the lever 38 isl generally spherical and isengaged by a substantially vertical plane surface on the end of thelever 46. `Thus the lever 46 may be regarded as pushing the arm 38forwardly'from idle to active position against the resistance of spring32. It should be particularly noted that the arm 38 or at least thatpart of it-which is engaged by the lever 46, is in its idle positionoutside of the swivelling axis-that is, outside of the axis of theA kingpin. When the brake is applied, the

.point of engagement .between lever 46 and arm 38 moves in a .directiongenerally perpendicular to the swivelling axis to a positionsubstantially in that axis, so that there vin any desired manner.Between these surfaces are two friction Ashoes or discs, 116 and 118,corresponding in a general way to the shoes of the brake of Figure 1 andwhich are arranged to be expanded in opposite'directions generallyparallel to the axle against the friction surf-aces of the drum by pins(not shown) carried by the backing plate 122, and

engaging in inclined cam slots in cylindrical or hub sections of thefriction discs. The pins are caused to expand the discs as described byturning of the disc'118 by a rack 120 operated 'by a pinion 136, whichcorresponds generally to the cam 36 and which is keyed on the end oftherock shaft 40. The

details of this particular brake mechanism are more fully described inmy prior application No. 726,050, filedJuly 14, 1924.

In the arrangement of Figures 4 and 5 the cam shaft 40 carries on itsserrated end a pinion or the like 60, having teeth meshing with those ofa corresponding pinion 62, shown vas formed integrallywith a curvedlever 2,38, which is mounted on a pivot 64, just above the-.shaft 40,and which is formed with a spherical `end engaged by the end of thelever 46, in the same manner as for arm 38. In adjusting this mechanism,thecam shaft 40 is held by the wrench as described above, while thepinion member 60 is replaced in the correct angular position.' Theadjustment is preserved by tightening a .clamp screw 66.

l y The arrangement of Figure differs from 'that of Figure-5 in that thelever 338,-corresponding to the lever 238, is formed with a generallyspherical end portion 362 engaging4 a 'lever360 on one end of the'1camshaft 4.0. The parts 360 and`362 ormv equivalents of In Figures 7 and 8is shown still a'dilerent mechanism including a lever 4.38, loosely m.sleeved' on the cam shaft 40 and urged by a torsion spring 68 in 'adirectionvto forcean adjustable set screw v7() against the 'arm '72Vclamped upon the-serrated end ofthe cam shaft 40. Adjustments of the setscrew 70 may be preserved bytightening a clamp screw74. .Y

Figure 9 illustratesfhow any of the above described 'mechanisms or theirequivalents may .be arranged yto vary the actionofthe 'brakes in`rounding a corner,rp'referably by' releasing the-brake which is' on theoutside of the turn. In this diagram the solid lines W represent theWheels when in the position they occupy vwhen the car is moving straightahead, or` vat "least they are parallel to the' Awheels althoughdiagrammatically shown as r intersecting t e kingy pins K.` The dottedlines W"indicte the positions of the wheels when they have beenswivelled about the king pins K to 'turn to the right. When the brakesare appliedV while thewheels are in the positions W thelevers-lwilloccupy the positions indicated in the diagram y thelines L. The pointsofengagement'of the levers 46ffor'the two wheels with the arms 3 8 at thistime are indicated by the letters C. When the wheels are turned" to thepositions W',

the point C for the lefthand wheel,-tliat is, the end of lever38,--swivels with the Wheelland moves tosome new position indicated aspoint C1. Atthe same time, the point C for the rightwheel,-that is, the

, end of its lever 38,-tends to move to a cor-- responding positionindicated as C2.

Obviously the position ofA the point C1' shows that ,the left-hand arm38 moves. away from its lever 46 and releasesthe' left or outer brake;at the same time .right-hand arm 38 is attempting to move totheiposition Q2 and' istherefore crowding against its lever46 to tightenthe inner bralna.V It will be recognized, of course, that in using theseoperat- 'ing connections to release the outer'brake they should not beequalized. It willalso be recognized that the lines W and Wvdo notindicate the exact position of theplanes'of thc wheels, whichare notcoincident with the axis of the kingpin but may be so re- `-garded forthe purpose of the diagram. As

a matter of fact, the wheels are some distance outside of the kingpins', although the axis of the king pin is usually arranged tointersect the plane of' its, wheel at the ground, and 4consequently thepoints C are between king pin axes and the wheels the support, meansbetween the support and drum; operated bythe shaft for applying afriction device, Yconnections on the opposite side oltlhe support fromsaid means for'rocki ing the shaft including a part movable from an idleposition outside of the swivelling axis to 'a position substantiallyin'said axis, and means not swivellin with the knuckle and arranged .toymove said part from its idle position to4 its active position -toAapply the brake. f L

2. Front iwheel brake mechanism Acornpris-j f ing, [in combination, a"swivelled'steering., knuckle rotatably supporting a ,drum andai..

carrying a stationary support, means between the support and the drumfor applying affriction device, a connection passing through the supportand arranged to 'operate said means, a `member 'on' the opposite side ofthe supportfrom said means mov-l able from an idle position outside ofthe swivelling axis to an active position in which a part issubstantially in` said axis,` and means for rocking said member from itsidle l position to its active position by engaging said part to applythe brake. Y 3. Front wheel brakefoperating .mechalos nism comprising,in combinatioma swivelled knuckle rotatably supporting a, drum fandcarrying a stationary support, means between tho support and the drumfor applying' a friction device, an arm arranged to rock a brakeapplying shaft and mounted onv the opposite side of the support fromsaid means and arranged to be moved from an idle position outside of theswiveling axis to an active position in which a part isI substantiallyin said axis, and ya'separately supported operating connection engagingsaid part of the arm to move it from idle to active position.

4. Front wheelv brake-operating mechanism comprising, in combination, aswivelled knuckle rotatably supporting a drum and carrying a stationarysupport, brake-applying means between the support4 and drum, a shaft'passing through the support and arranged to operate said means, an'armon the-opposite side lof the support from said means arranged to rocktheshaft and mov- -able in a plane approximately parallel to the wheel tomovev a part substantially hori- A vice engaging said part and arrangedto move it from idle to active position. 4

5. Front wheel brake-operating mecha- ".nism comprising, in combination,an axis having a knuckle swivelled at its end, a drum rotatably mountedon the lknuckle and a stationaryi support carried` by the knuckle,brake-applying means carried by the support, an arm on the opposite sideof the support from vthe dium arranged to operate said means and mountedto be swung from an idle position outside of the axis about which theknuckle swivels to a position in which a part is substantially in saidaxis, and a lever fulcrumed on the axle and engaging said part of thearmto rock the arm from idle to active position with the point ofengagement between the lever and arm in active position substantially inthe swivelling axis.

6. Front wheel brake mechanism, comprising, in combination, a knucklerotatably supporting a drum and carrying a stationary support, retardingmeans between the support and drum expansible into frictional engagementwith tlie drum, means between the support and drum for expanding theretarding means, an arm on the opposite side of the. support from thedrum arranged to operate the expanding means and movable in a gene-allyvertical longitudinal plane from an idle position in which it is outsideof the swivelling axis to 'an' active position in which a part issubstantially in said axis, and controlling mechanism including a partengaging said part of the arm to rock the arm from idle to activeposition. 1

7. Front wheel brake mechanism comprising, in combination, a knucklerotatably supporting a druinand carrying a stationary support, shoesanchored on the support and expansible into frictional engagement withthe inside of the drinn, means engaging the free ends ofthe shoes toexpand them against the drum,- an arm mounted upon the opposite side ofthe support from the drum and arranged to operate the expanding means,

the arm being arranged to swing in a genera l-'r .ly verticallongitudinal plane from a position outside of the s'wivelling axis to aVposition in which a part is substantially 1n said axis, andoperatingconnections including al member engaging said part of the arm to rockthe arm from idle to active position.

8. Front wheel brake-mechanism` comprisling, in combination, aknucklei'otatably supporting a drum and carrying a stationary support,brake-operating mechanism mount-l ed on the support and including arockshaft journaled in the support and anarm arranged ling axis to aposition in which apart is substantially in said axis, means foradjusting the relative angular positions of the arm and rock shaft, andoperating connections including a member engaging said part of the armto swing the arm from idle to active position.

9. Front wheel brake-operating mechanism comprising, in combination, aswivelled knuckle carrying a stationary support and a brake-operatingrock shaft journaled in the support, a crank arm clampedto said rockshaft and arranged for adjustment angularly with respect to the rockshaft, the arm` being arranged to be swung from a position outside -ofthe swivelling axis to a position in which a part issubstantially insaid axis, and operating connections including a member engaging Saidpart of the arm to swing the arm from idle to active position.

l0. Front wheel brake-operating mechanism comprising, in combination, aswivelled knuckle carrying astationary support, a brake-applying shaftjournaled in the support, a crankarm adj ustably clamped on the end ofthe shaft and arranged to swing from a position outside of theswivelling axis to a position in which a part is substantially in saidaxis, and operating connections including'a member engaging said part ofthe arm to swing the arm from an idle to active positon.

1l. Front wheel brake mecanism arranged to be varied when rounding acorner and comprising, in combination, a swivelled steering knuckle,retarding means and operating connections swivelling with the knuckleand i11- c'luding a part movable from a position outside of theswivelling axis to a position near but not in said axis, and otheroperating connections including a member engaging said part to move itto said second position to apply the retarding means when the wheel ismoving straight ahead and to vary the pressure on the retarding meanswhen the wheel is swivelled.

' 12. Braking mechanism 'for a front wheel the swivelling axis from anidle position outside of said' axis to an active position near but notin said axis, brake-operating mechanism including' a member engagingsaid part and arranged to move it from idle to active position with thepoint of engagement so arranged With respect to the swivelling axis thatthe brake is applied when thewheel is'moving. straight ahead and isautomaticallyl released when the wheel is on the outside of a turn.

13. Braking mechanism lfor a front wheel arranged to be released whenthe wheel is swivelling and comprising, in combination, a

c swivelled knuckle carrying retarding means and operating 'meanstherefor, including a part movable 'approximately perpendicular totheswivelling axis from an idle` position outside of said axis to anactive position immediately adjacent said axis, brake-applying l aheadand is swivelled.'

means including a member swinging in a generally horizontal plane andmoving said partfrom idle to active position, the point of engagementbetween said part and said member' being so arranged with respect totheswivel- .ling axis that the brakeis applied when the Wheel is movingstraight ahead and is auto- ,the, Wheel is matically released whenswivelled.

14:. Brakin arranged to be released when `the Wheel is sWivelled on aturnand comprising, in combination, a swivelled knucklev rotatablysupporting the wheel and carryingretarding means and operating meanstherefor, including a part movable approximately perpendicular to theswivellin axis from an idle position outside said axis to an activeposition spaced slightly from said axis approximately in a planeincluding the swivelling axis vand .theaxis of the Wheel, and operatingmeans including a member engaging said part to move it from idle-toactive position with the point' 'of engagement in said plane so that thebrake is applied when the Wheel is moving straight c released when theWheel is 15. Braking mechanism for a front wheel comprising, incombination, a sWivelled knuckle carrying retarding means antioperatingconnections therefor, including a-part movable approximatelyperpendicular to the swivelling axis from a position outsideof said axisto a position immediately adjacent said Y- axis between the axis and theWheel, brakeoperating means including a member engaging, said part topush it from idle to active yposition to apply the retarding means whenfthe Wheel is straight ahead, said 'part tend-U ing -to move away lfromthe member when the Wheel is swivelling to release said retarding means.y Y

16. Braking mechanism for a front Wheel comprising, in combination, a'swivellect knuckle carrying retardingmeans and operating meanstherefor, including a part movable substantially horizontally fromvaposi-l tion outside of the swivelling axis to a positionimmediatelyadjacent said axis between `1 #the axis and the wheel', and a levermovable generally horizontally and engaging said part to move it fromidle to active position.

17.- -Braking mechanism fora front Wheell comprising, in combination, aswivelled knuckle carrying retarding means and a support, a rock shaftjournaledin the support and arranged to operate the retarding means, amovable arm on the rock shaft, and a lever mechanism forafront Wheelengaging, the arm and operable to move the point of engagement generallyhorizontally from an idle position to an active position between theswivelling axis and the Wheel.

18` Braking mechanism for a front Wheel comprising, in combination, anaxle, a knuckle swivelled to the end of the axle Vand carrying retardingmeans ,and a support, a rock yshaft journaled in the support andarranged towoperate the retarding means, a'movable arm on therock shaft,and a `lever pivoted on the axle and engagin the arm and operable tomove the point o engagement generally horizontally Afrom an idleposition to an active position between the swivelling and the wheel. A

19. Retarding means fora Wheel rotatably braking mechanism swivellingwith the knuckle, and a generally horizontal operating lever engaging apart of said mechanism in such a position With respect to the swivellingaxis as to cause the braking pressure to be varied automatically bysvvivelling the knuckle.

.mounted on a knuckle sivivelled for steering `movement and comprising,in combination,

20; Reta'rding -means for a Wheel rotatably mounted on a knuckleswivelled for steering movement .and comprising, 1n combination, brakingmechanism sWivelling-,With the knuckle, and a generally horizontaloperating lever engaging apart of-said mechanism between the swivellingaxis and the Wheel toy release the braking mechanism when the Wheel andknuckle are swivelled as described. 2l. Retarding means for a Wheelrotatably mounted on a sWi-veiledknuckle and eompris- Vi.ng,incombination, braking mechanism swiv- `elliiig with the knuckle, andoperating means l therefor separately supported, and .engaging a part ofthe braking mechanism When the latter is inactive position between theswivelling axis and they Wheel, the pointof engagement moving generallyhorizontallyto said position When the braking mechanism is operated tovary the action as described When'l the knuckle is swivelled.

I 23. Operating mechanism for a brake on a Wheel swivelling about agenerally vertical axis, including a joint moving crossWise with respectto said axis in applying and releasing the brake, and means foradjusting the position of the joint in a direction substan- ILO tiallyperpendicular to said axis to compensate for Wear 'of the brake.

24. Operating mechanism vfor a brake on a-Wheel swivelling about agenerally vertical 5 axis, including swivelling and non-swivelling partshaving interengaging 4portions movingl crosswise With respect to saidaxis in applying and releasing the brake, and means for adjusting theposition of said portions in a direction substantially perpendicular to'said axis to compensate for Wear of the brake.

In testimony whereof I have' hereunto signed my name.

Vso

VINCENT t BENDIX.

